About the Author

Kayla Craig is the author of “To Light Their Way" and "Every Season Sacred" and creator of Liturgies for Parents. A former journalist, she’s adamant about paying attention and staying curious. She writes the popular "Year of Breath" devotional newsletter and lives in Iowa with her husband and four wild,...

(in)side DaySpring: things we love
& you will too!
Find more at DaySpring.com
(in)side DaySpring:
things we love
& you will too!
Find more at
DaySpring.com
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  1. Appreciate these words today. Realizing thru conversations with others as well as some personal “family dynamics” that this season of the year can be one of the most difficult for many people. So thankful for a Savior who knows . . . who understands . . . who holds us tightly in His embrace.

  2. Thank you for this lovely story!!! I needed to read this today. I’ve been trying to get everything done before Christmas. Everything I thought was ‘necessary’! However my husband and I are recovering from illness (we both had Covid and he was in hospital 10 days with sepsis) and neither of us has the energy to put up outside lights, trim every corner of the house and I’m not sure the huge tree we usually put up will be done. However my nativity is set up. It’s my favorite Christmas decoration. And we have a small 4’ fiber optic tree set up that we both love. Our family will be here Christmas Eve and we’ll all enjoy each others company. My greatest love is my family – my precious gifts from God! So today I’m just going to enjoy what is and not worry about what I can’t do!

    • Yes to all of this, Leann! I’m so grateful you and your husband are feeling better now. You’re so right — soaking up time with loved ones is so much more important than what we accomplish. Merry Christmas!

  3. Dear Kayla………I cried as I read your devotion today. After 54 years of marriage and wonderful “Holy Days” celebrations with an extended family, at 77 years old I am left with nobody. My ex-husband now, 6 years ago I noticed his mind failing and made him go with me to a neurologist. He was diagnosed with one of the worst types of dementia. He told me on the way home that there was nothing wrong with him and he was not going to stop drinking and he was not going to take the medication they had prescribed and he flushed them down the toilet. So much more to this story, but all my relatives that we gathered with are all gone to Heaven and my 1 child (a Son) called me and told me he no longer considered me his mother and I could never see or even talk to my one grandchild (a 12 year old boy) and then he just hung up. I stayed with my husband at that time for 3+ years begging him to do what he what was right, but he just increased his drinking and abused me every night for that 3+ years until he tried to kill me. I lean on Jesus during holiday seasons as there is no one else. Had to sell our house of 40 years as we both needed money so he was taken to one facility and I am in a different one. For two years now there has been no contact with either of them. I know this really doesn’t follow your kind words, but you women at (in)courage are the ones that keep me getting up and putting one foot in front of the other. My Holy Spirit guided me to find you and is with me all the time. I love him, but it is very lonely living by myself without a family that is still here but blame me for everything. Thank you Kayla and my best to you for a lovely Christmas with family and friends………Betsy Basile

    • Oh, Betsy. Thank you for sharing all you’ve been holding…that is just too much. I’m so sorry! Praying that you feel the love of God surrounding you as we approach Christmas. Even when we are lonely, we are never alone. Sending you love and prayers this holiday. We are grateful you are here at (in)courage!

  4. Thank you for this post. I can relate to your honest words of wisdom. Each night I take a walk through the rooms I have decorated for Christmas and thank God for my blessings. I know my Christmas will be perfectly imperfect but I am thankful nonetheless.

  5. I love this, I’ve been feeling bad this year because we haven’t been able to decorate much after finding some mold and having to do some renovations. It hasn’t been overly stressful since the mold company we used has taken good care of us, but it’s definitely limited the decorations I can put out and I want my kids to feel the special time of year. But you’re absolutely right, Jesus wasn’t born in a spotless palace. It’s more about remembering why we celebrate Christmas, which can be done with or without decorations. Thanks for sharing this post, I’m really grateful for it.

  6. Dear sister Kayla,
    I cannot tell you how much this writing has meant to me ever since I first read it on the day you published it and listened to it many times since. (I’m visually impaired and very much health impaired so listening is really beneficial and easier for me. )

    So much of it was meaningful, but one little phrase has helped me survive, and more than survive – – given me hope, gladness and purpose (at times) although it feels as if I have very little purpose right now because my life is so different because of this terminal fast growing leukemia. But each moment can give me purpose as you pointed out.

    Here is the phrase you wrote that has meant so much to me. I pray it and thank God for it, entreat Him to help me to do it:

    That I “enter into /live into every moment he has brought me into.” Sounds simple doesn’t it? Well that’s exactly what I needed and presently need. This writing is not just for the Christmas season, but for every day, in my opinion.

    And the reminderThat God is with me is critical. Immanuel God with me, who has come to my mess, our mess and can be trusted to love us in and through our messes.

    Thank you so much! you’ve given me one of the best Christmas gifts for every day of the year.

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